Measuring device.



Patented Feb. 4, |902. F. S.`BALDW|N. -MEASURING DEVICE.

(Application fild Nov. 26, 1901.)

-2 Sheets--Sheet I.

(No Model.)

YN: Norms Pneus co., mom-urna.. wnsnmcn'ou. n. c.

Patented reni 4, |902.

F. s. BALDWIN. mEAsuam D'Evlce. (Appueatiog med Nov. 2e. i901.)

2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

* In model.)

Witness@ THE Norms PETERS co., Pnaourua. wnsrunmon nv c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEE-ICE.

FRANK S. BALDWIN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MEASURING DEVICE.

SPEU'IFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 692,756, datedFebruary 4, 1902. Application led November 26l 1901. Serial No. 83,740.(No model.)

To au wir/071e 15m/ty concern/.-

Be it known that I, FRANK S. BALDWIN, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Measuring Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in measuring devices, theimprovement hereinafter described and which is illustrated herein beingadapted to be used with or without a tape.

The object of my invention is to provide a measure of the characterhereinafter shown and described with an improved and convenient mannerof wiping out that isfthe returning of the numeral-'wheels to naught orzero after a measurement has been made, thus returning the parts of thedevice to their proper positions for another measurement.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of mytape-measure, which includes in its mechanism my improved Wiping-outconstruction. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view on'the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view atright angles to Fig. 3 and Von the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is asectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 looking in the Kgo directionindicated by arrow. Fig. 6 is a view f the reel-casing withthe-ratchet-wheel and kpinion shown in position in respect to thecasing. Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 5 with some of the gearsomitted. Fig. 8 is an 35 external plan view showing a different form ofcasing and the construction including my improved wiping-out mechanism,the construction arranged to operate without a tape. Fig. 9 is asectional view omitting the nu- 1neral-gearing and showing the toothedactuating-wheel used in the place of a tape-reel. Referring now to Figs.1 to 7, inclusive, 1 indicates the casing, designed for use inconnection with a tape 2. The casin g, as shown, is arranged with apoint or right-angle portion 3, and the tape 2 passes therefrom at thispoint, whereby it isvespecially well adapted formeasuring in corners oflroomsand similar situations to obtain accurate measurement. One side ofthe casing is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with aninwardlyextending bushing 4, upon which is journaled a combined springand reel-casing 5. This casing 5 has wound around it a s uitabletape 2,preferably composed of a strip of steel. The casing is suitablyjournaled (preferably as shown) upon the bushing 4 and contains at oneside a spring 6, one end of thespring being secured to the hub or centerof the casing and the other end to t-he case proper. The action andoperation of a spring .of this form in atape-measure are so wellunderstood that any description thereof is unnecessary. Passing throughthe casing loosely is a suitable rotatable and slidable shaft 10, thesaid shaft 10 having connected therewith in any suitable manner aratchet-wheel 11. As here shown, the means preferred for attaching saidwheel to the shaft 10 is through the me dium of engaging screw-threads,as shown at 12, formed upon the said shaft and upon a hub or bushing 14of the ratchet-wheel. One or more springs 15 have their outer endssecured to the casing 5, while their inner and free ends are inengagement with the ratchetwheel, whereby the rotation of the casing inone direction will cause a corresponding rotation of theratchet-wheel-as, for instance, when the tape is drawn out formeasuringwhile the rotation of the casing in the opposite direction forwinding up the tape will not rotate the ratchet-wheel, since the springsin this case will slip idly over the teeth of the said wheel.

Formed as a part of or secured to the hub or bushing 14 of theratchet-wheel 11 is a.

pinion 17, the said pinion adapted to engage and actuate a suitableregistering mechanism, 'which I will now explain. Y

As here shown, the registering mechanism consists of a units-wheel 20, atens-wheel 21, and a hundreds-wheel 22. These wheels are geared and haveeach secured to them a numeral-disk 23, thenumerals of which are adaptedto show through the openings 27 in the case. The wheels 21 and 22 havelocated between them and the numeral-disk suitable toothed wheels orgears 28 and 29, and with which suitable check-springs 30 and 31 engagefor a purpose well understood by those skilled in the art. The tens vandhundreds wheels 21 and 22, respectively, have a portion of their teethcut out, as shown at 32, for a purpose to be presently explained.V It

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will be noticed by reference to Fig. 5 that the wheels 20, 21, and 22are situated around the pinion 17, and by reference to Figs. 3 and et itwill be noted that the tens and hundreds wheels 21 and 22 are located ina different plane, or, in other words, at a point inside of the plane inwhich the units-wheel 2O is located. A suitable spring 35 serves to holdthe shaft 10, and consequently the pinion 17, normally in its outwardposition, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this position the parts areready to perform their function in registering a measurement caused bythe drawing outward of the tape 2, and the pinion 17 is thus shown to benormally in engagement with the units-wheel 20. The carrying operationfrom the units-wheel to the tens and from the tens to the hundreds is ofthe ordinary and well-known form-namely, through the medium ofprojecting teeth or lugs i6-and as the operation of a registering-trainof this character is so well understood any further explanation isunnecessary. After a calculation has been made and a register thereofobtained through the openings 27 in the case and it is desired to wipeout the calculation, or, in other words, to return the numeralwheels toZero or naught, it is accomplished in the following manner: My inventionpertains to this feature, and it consists in having the tens andhundreds wheels in the same plane and the units-wheel 2O in a differentplane and the tens and hundreds wheels provided with the cutout portion32 and the pinion 17 movable in and out of engagement, respectively,with the units, tens, and hundreds wheels. As before stated, the pinion17 being in normal engagement with the units-wheel the tape is drawnoutward until the units-wheel is brought to naught. By pushing the shaft10 inward through the medium of its headed or button portion 40 thepinion 17 is carried out of engagement with the units-wheels 2O and intoengagement with the tens and hundreds wheels 21 and 22. The cut-outportions 32 of these wheels are so located that they are opposite thepinion 17 when the tens and hundreds numeral-wheels have their naughtsexhibited through the openings 27 of the casing. Hence the units-wheelhaving been turned, as before stated, to bring naught through itsopening, the shaft is moved inward and the tape drawn outward. The tensand hundreds wheels will then be carried to zero, since the pinion 17cannot .rotate these wheels beyond that point, because of the cut-outportions 32. From this it will be noted that it is immaterial whatnumerals of the wheels 2l and 22 are exhibited through the openings whenthe wiping-out method is being operated, for the wheels cannot be turnedby the pinion 17 beyond naught or zero. In this way the operator canwipe out the calculation by first causing the units-wheel to turn tozero and pressing lnward upon the button 4-0 and continuing to drawoutward on the tape, which, as before stated, will automatically bringthe tens and hundreds wheels to Zero.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown this invention as applicable to ameasuring device in which a projecting` spur-wheel 50 is substituted forthe ratchet-wheel, tape, and tape reel or casing shown in Figs. 1 to 7.In this instance the ratchet-wheel 1l is converted into a spur-wheel, asshown in Fig. 9, and enlarged in diameter. The casing is then cnt out,as shown at 51, to permit the spur-wheel to project. In all otherrespects the mechanism is identical with that shown in Figs. 1 to 7,inclusive, the operation of wiping ont being the same, except that thespur-wheel 50 is rotated for that purpose, and its shaft 52 is movedinward through the medium of the button or head 53 and the spur-wheelrotated for actuating the mechanism, as previously explained, instead ofdrawing outward upon a tape. The construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 isespecially adapted for use in measuring lumber, since the spur-wheel canbe placed in engagement with the piece of lumber to be measured and thedevice simply moved along over the piece of lumber, when the lengththereof will be registered and indicated through the openings 54 of thecas* ing.

Having thus described myinvention, what -I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the character described, comprising a registeringmechanism including a units and a tens gear, the said gears situated indifferent planes, and a rotatable and laterally-movable actuating-gearadapted to be brought into engagement respectively and independentlywith the said gears, substantially as described.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a registeringmechanism including a units and a tens gear located in different planes,the tens-gear being cut away for the purpose described, and a rotatableand late? ally-movable gear normally in contact with the units-gear, andadapted to be moved into engagement with the tens-gear, substantial] yas described.

3. Adevice of the character described, comprising a rotatable andlaterally-movable actuating-gear, a registering mechanism including aunits, a tens and a hundreds gear 10- cated concentrically around theactuatinggear and adapted to be engaged thereby, the units-gear locatedin a different plane from the plane in which the tens and hundreds gearsare located, the tens and hundreds gears being partially cutout for thepurpose described, means for normally holding the actuatinggear normallyin engagement with the units-gear, and means for moving theactuating-gear laterally in engagement with the tens and hundreds gears,substantially as described.

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692,756' d l l "8p 4. A device of the oharaoterl-deseribed, ingagementwith the tens-gear, Substantially as; eludingarotatable and slidableshaft carrydescribed..v Y. c Y d ing an actuating-gear, the shaftprojecting In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set beyond the outer faceofthe case, for the purmyhand inthe presence of two subscribing posedescribed, a, registering mechanism inl Witnesses. l l

eluding annits and a tens gear, the said gears located in differentVp1a.nes,zyielding means. for normally holding the actuating-gear inengagement with the units-gear, but permit-- o ing the actuating-gear tobe carried into en- FRANK sf BALDWIN.

Witnesses: GHAS. E. WEEKS,

WM. A. DRABBLE.

